Press Release from the HSA

Hunt Saboteurs Association Press Release November 29th 2013

The Hunt Saboteurs Association is proud to proclaim its role in bringing the hated badger cull to an early finish. This can never feel like a victory as far to many innocent animals have been murdered but it is a great testament to a wide variety of groups who have worked tirelessly together that we have, for now, beaten the Government and the NFU.

Hunt sabs have been out in both zones since the cull began using non-violent direct action to save animals lives. They have been incredibly effective and are a significant part of the reason why the cull was such a total failure. The Government have moved the goalposts so many times that we have ended up playing an entirely different game but whatever they have thrown at us – cage trapping, oppressive policing and illegal extensions we have taken in our stride and defeated. The Hunt Saboteurs Association has more than doubled its membership since the culls began and we have had a huge upsurge of interest in those wishing to join our local groups.

This is not the end but it is a significant blow to Owen Patterson's hopes of a nationwide badger massacre. We have shown that we will never give up and if they continue with this morally abhorrent policy we will come back even stronger and beat them again.

Lee Moon spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association stated: “It has been truly inspirational to see hunt saboteurs work so closely with others, from all walks of life, to fight this hideous cull. The support and respect we receive from all those we work with has been amazing and the increased support means the organisation is stronger than it has been for years. Now the cull is temporarily over we look forward to turning our attention back to our traditional target of hunting with hounds and, with our increased levels of support, making the hunters lives a misery for the rest of the season.”

Badger Baiting Happening NOW

Dear All

Here is a quick post from an e-mail release I received today.  It looks like the battle is about to begin, if you are in the area or are able to get to the area PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help the badgers.  The time for talking is over - NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION.

For the poor badger


The cut and paste is below:

URGENT – The Battle for badgers begins by NWHSA Battle for badgers begins October 20, 2012 Today the 20th of October, one of our teams in the Gloucestershire zone found two setts that had been pre-baited. We have the photos and we will disclose the names of the farms tomorrow. After making calls we found out that at 6.45pm on this Saturday night there are people working in Natural England, we can only assume that the licence and all the other logistics are in place and the cull is about to start, we have looked at a lot of setts today and there are only the two that have been pre-baited. With this in mind we now have to ask you all to get your waterproofs packed and start working out your work schedules, booking any time off from the 29th of October almost guarantees that you will be coming during the cull (if it is taking place) as the cull has to be finished by the end of November. Please remember that the biggest and hardest part for us is too work out accommodation, If you need help with this then you really do need to contact your local hunt sab group. We will update you with any information that we have as soon as we get it, we will be updating this page tomorrow with any news about other setts being pre-baited and we will put up a comprehensive list of all the things you should bring with you. We are watching the farmers We are watching setts We will protect the setts http://badger-killers.co.uk/battle-for-badgers-begins/ North West Hunt Saboteurs Association 07960 038230 www.nwhsa.org.uk info Blog - http://nwhsa.wordpress.com

Direct Action Against All Forms of bloodsports

Some Badger News from the HSA

Hi All

First of all I would like to thank the many people who are looking at my posts on this blog. 

Now down to business....

I was looking at the HSA website last night and noted the latest news from the actions against the badger cull, below is a cut and paste from the news:

Over 80 hunt saboteurs and anti-cull campaigners descended on Forthampton Estate near Tewkesbury today to show their disapproval at the proposed badger cull. The 3000 acre shooting estate covers 3% of the Gloucestershire cull zone and fully supports the cull. The saboteurs took full advantage of the estate's many footpaths to legally survey for badger setts as well as looking for evidence of the shooting industries guilty secrets and bad practices. They were followed by concerned, and occasionally aggressive, estate staff who were keen to keep them away from the game bird breeding facilities and release pens. The estate also had private security guarding key buildings. The police were out in force and even felt it necessary to send out their helicopter to keep an eye on events.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Today was an exercise in showing the cost of being involved in the cull. No one broke the law or went anywhere they weren't allowed yet Forthampton estate felt the need to bring all their staff in on a Sunday and even employ extra security while the police were out in force to watch people strolling around the countryside. With so many footpaths Forthampton Estate, and many other landowners in the cull zones, will find it difficult to stop legal opposition to the un-scientific, immoral badger cull”

Doesn't the bold and underlined section make you gasp with shock?!...no...nor me! The police are out in force when it means sabs can be given a hard time or arrested.  Funny how you can get the required resources when needed, eh chief constables?!  Funny how the policing of hunts is very low.  Funny how hunts are getting away with murder.  Funny how the police are STILL APPLYING THE LAW on certain things and NOT when truly needed.

Let's not get above ourselves here, the police should remain 'unbiased and impartial' (which we know is a complete joke at times) and therefore like the automotons they are, will go to hassle decent people who are just trying to make the government realise that killing HUGE amounts of badgers will NOT SOLVE ANYTHING BUT MAKE THINGS WORSE; this has been proved from the first culls and scientific evidence.

Please if you are close by to the killing zones, go and help the badgers (legally of course!!!!) and show the government, DEFRA, Paterson, NFU, the police and the public that this cull is wrong, cruel, evil, unjustified and unscientific.

Because you have immoral idiots in charge of high powered weapons - please take care.

For the poor badger

Tesco Still Damning Badgers for £ Signs

Hi All

I e-mailed Tesco in order to ask them to join the right side in the badger fight only to be met by the usual crap from a large company which cares more for money than morals. The e-mail is transcribed below for you to have a look at.  I feel if we all pile on the pressure, they might -just-might see sense and stop buying from the disgusting filthy farmers who need to clean up their act and look much closer to home rather than looking for scapegoats.

Dear Mrs Barnes

Thank you for your reply. It saddens me that your company will not aid the plight of the badger cause and I'm afraid you are incorrect, with respect to the motives adopted by the government during the lengthy process of investigation.  The sheer amount of scientific evidence against the cull has not been heeded by the government and even Lord Kreb (the governmental adviser involved with previous badger culls) himself is against this cull as well as many animal organisations.  The public were consulted and responded VERY HEAVILY in favour of vaccination which the government completely disregarded thereby choosing culling only to appease the NFU.

Regretfully I (and my friends and family) will not be shopping at Tescos anymore and will continue to use other suppliers namely your competitors who are not in favour of the cull.

Yours

Mr ******************* MScBSc(Hons)AMInstP PGCE mRAS

---

From: "customer.service@tesco.co.uk" <customer.service@tesco.co.uk>
To: **************************
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2012 5:03 PM
Subject: Re your recent enquiry

Dear ************** Thank you for your email about the Government's planned trials of badger culling.
We take animal welfare very seriously and we know it is very important to our customers. The planned cull is a difficult and sensitive issue, with animal welfare concerns on both sides of the debate. 
We are neither in favour, nor against any cull; this is a decision to be taken by the farmers in the affected areas. Bovine TB is a huge threat to both to the health of livestock and to the livelihoods of many beef and dairy farmers. We are committed to supporting British farmers through this challenging time and will retain our relationships with those who make the decision to participate in the cull.
The Government went through a lengthy process in coming to their decision to trial culling to help tackle the disease, consulting with the public and reviewing the scientific evidence to date. We do not think it is appropriate for us to question this process. However, we are keen to do what we can to help to address the spread of the disease through alternative measures. We are currently looking at ways our collaboration with the Dairy Centre of Excellence at the University of Liverpool might help with this, for example by sharing the latest research on herd health with our farmers.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us and please let me know if I can be of any further help.
Kind regards

Rachel Barnes
Tesco Customer Service

For the hunted animal, enforcing the LAW and the poor badger.